SDM questions Shashi Tharoor about his relationship with Mehr Tarar

New Delhi: A day after Union Minister Shashi Tharoor's wife Sunanda Pushkar, who was found dead in a Delhi hotel on Friday, was cremated, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Delhi questioned eight people in connection with the case on Sunday evening. This included Tharoor, Sunanda's son, brother, and five members of their personal staff.

According to sources, the SDM questioned Tharoor about the circumstances leading to his wife's death. He was also questioned about their relationship since marriage and about his relation with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar, who was accused by Sunanda of having an affair with him.

Officials have recovered anti- depressant drugs from Sunanda's room in Hotel Leela Palace. Investigators are also examining call and SMS details from her phone number.

Sources said that Tharoor gave his statement in writing and was very co-operative throughout the entire period. With this the SDM's part of the enquiry is over and he is now waiting for the post-mortem report.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is likely to hand over the details of Sunanda's post- mortem report to the SDM on Monday and the magisterial inquiry will likely conclude by Tuesday or latest by Wednesday.

Tharoor had earlier in the day asked Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to expedite the probe into the Sunanda death case to bring out the truth. He said he will fully co-operate with the investigation.

"I am horrified to read the reckless speculation in the media regarding this case," he said. The preliminary post-mortem report called her death unnatural and sudden. The post-mortem also revealed that she had not consumed any solid food. AIIMS Forensic Head Sudhir Gupta said, "Yes, she had a sudden unnatural death. We have preserved some samples for testing."

However, the police and doctors have so far remained tightlipped about Sunanda's death and are unwilling to comment on the cause of her death till the SDM completes his enquiry.